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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Virginia Tech

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08/05/22 - Nick Gallo, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech + More +

Virginia Tech tight end Nick Gallo has 25 career catches for 213 yards with a touchdown. Those are pretty modest numbers for a player that's played in 35 career games with 15 starts. Here's a prediction for 2022 - he surprises the numbers in all three categories this fall. Gallo earned the trust of the new coaching staff right out of the gate, and ended up being named the most improved award for the offense at the end of spring camp. Bowen labeled Gallo as more of an 'F' tight end, a designation for the a tight end that typically moves around from playing in the slot, to the backfield and even gets opportunities to line up on the outside. Or as Bowen describes it someone who, " a move, off the ball, flex out" guy while Drake Deiuliis will be counted on to be more of the inline blocking guy. That along with Tech's inexperience at receiver should put Gallo in position to be one of the offense's more productive players. - Roanoke Times

rSr/2025

TE Nick Gallo, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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08/05/22 - Stone Snyder, rSr/2024, Virginia Tech + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM (COACHES): LB Stone Snyder, Sr., VMI,...Named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in both the media and coaches' polls after leading the league in tackles per game (11.0) in 2021 - 76 in seven regular season games, including a career-high 21 versus The Citadel….in helping VMI capture its first SoCon title since 1977 and first-ever FCS playoffs bid, he had 9.5 tackles for loss (64 yards), eight sacks (62 yards) and four QB hurries. - Virginia Military Institute Football

rSr/2024

ILB Stone Snyder, Virginia Tech
News Source: Virginia Military Institute Football
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08/03/22 - Jaylin Lane, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech + More +

2022 PRESEASON PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST: Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee,...The rising redshirt sophomore receiver was named Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American as a punt returner last year when he ranked second nationally in punt return average (11.5) and was 26th nationally in combined kick return yards (580). Lane finished the year with 42 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns, while also leading the team in punt returns (19 for 295) and kickoff returns (13 for 285). Lane also had a punt return for a touchdown. - Middle Tennessee Football

rSr/2025

WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
News Source: Middle Tennessee Football
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08/01/22 - Bhayshul Tuten, Sr/2025, Virginia Tech + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES/MEDIA): RB Bhayshul Tuten, Soph., North Carolina A&T,...as a freshman in 2021, Tuten served as a running back, receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner. He compiled 786 all-purpose yards on 70 touches, including 230 yards receiving and a touchdown and 215 yards rushing and three touchdowns. - North Carolina A&T Football

Sr/2025

RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
News Source: North Carolina A&T Football
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08/01/22 - Clayton Frady, rSr/2024, Virginia Tech + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE TEAM (COACHES/MEDIA): OL Clayton Frady, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb,...Narii Gaither was named Big South Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, adding to a growing list of preseason accolades. He was joined on the All-Big South preseason offense by linemen Gabriel Thompson and Clayton Frady, receiver Justin Franklin and quarterback Bailey Fisher – who was also a preseason choice at punter. - Gardner-Webb Football

rSr/2024

OG Clayton Frady, Virginia Tech
News Source: Gardner-Webb Football
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07/30/22 - Jaylin Lane, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech + More +

Jaylin Lane had a breakout freshman season, catching 42 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 93 yards and a score last season. He also had a punt return for a TD and averaged more than 20 yards per kickoff return. His 15.5 average on punt returns has earned Lane some preseason hype, including being named preseason All-American by Athlon. "I try not to look too far ahead," Lane said. "I'm just focused on building team comradery and focused on being better than I was last year. The accolades will come if they come. I'm just trying to win ball games." - Daily News Journal

rSr/2025

WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
News Source: Daily News Journal
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07/29/22 - Chamarri Conner, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech + More +

Virginia Tech was one of three schools not to have any players voted to the All-ACC preseason football team for the first time since 2019. The ACC released the 27-member squad as voted on by 164 members of the media. Clemson led the way with six players on the team while Atlantic rival N.C. State had the second most with five players, including ACC preseason player of the year Devin Leary. - Roanoke Times

rSr/2023

FS Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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07/29/22 - Chamarri Conner, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech + More +

Virginia Tech didn't get much love in the ACC's annual preseason poll that was released on Tuesday afternoon. Tech was predicted to finish No. 5 in the Coastal Division behind the University of Virginia at fourth. Miami was picked to win the division with 98 first-place votes and Clemson was picked to win the Atlantic (111 first place votes). It was seventh time in the last eight years Clemson was picked to win the Atlantic and fifth straight year they were the overall preseason conference favorite. Clemson was an overwhelming favorite - they received 103 votes from the 164 members of the media that voted - over NC State to win the league.

While Tech got three first-place votes in the Coastal, it was the lowest the program has ever finished in the poll. The previous low came in 2016 when it was picked at No. 4, but went on to win the league. Virginia Tech had a busy offseason after parting ways with former coach Justin Fuente with two games left in the 2021 season. Pry, a former grad assistant under Frank Beamer was announced as Tech's new coach on Nov. 30. He brought on a staff that included former Florida State linebackers coach Chris Marve as defensive coordinator and Jacksonville Jaguars tight ends coach Tyler Bowen as offensive coordinator. - Roanoke Times

rSr/2023

FS Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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07/28/22 - Jaylin Lane, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech + More +

Conference USA released the 2022 preseason watch list, as selected by the league's 11 head coaches on Monday. Five student-athletes from each of the conference's 11 member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2022 season. Representing Middle Tennessee are WR Izaiah Gathings, WR Jaylin Lane, DE Jordan Ferguson, DL Zaylin Wood and punter Kyle Ulbrich. Gathings finished the 2021 season with 24 receptions for 302 yards and a touchdown after transferring from Gardner-Webb. The 6-4, 222-pound wideout is poised for a breakout campaign in 2022. Lane, who has been on most preseason all-conference teams, finished the 2021 season with 42 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns, while also leading the team in punt returns (19 for 295) and kickoff returns (13 for 285). Lane was a freshman all-american as a returner last year. - Middle Tennessee Football

rSr/2025

WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
News Source: Middle Tennessee Football
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07/26/22 - Pheldarius Payne, rSr/2024, Virginia Tech + More +

Virginia Tech defensive end Pheldarius Payne will likely miss the 2022 season with an Achilles injury he suffered in June. Tech coach Brent Pry said at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte that it was a non-contact injury, and that it would be "tough" for him to make it back before the end of the season. Pry wouldn't rush him back to play a couple games since Payne could redshirt and retain a year of eligibility. Payne, who started his career at Lackawanna Community College, transferred to Tech in May after two years at Nebraska. "I doubt that we would burn a couple games if he had a chance [to come back in 2023]," Pry said.

Pry was excited about adding the veteran to a rotation at defensive end that features three players that just moved there from different positions and a pair of true freshmen. Payne had 40 career tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks at Nebraska. The lone veterans at the position going into the fall for the Hokies are TyJuan Garbutt, Jaylen Griffin and Eli Adams. Griffin missed spring camp recovering from a knee injury, but was cleared to fully participate in the team's summer workouts. "I was excited about what he was bringing," Pry said of Payne. "To be honest, more than anything, it was devastating for him. He was super excited about the opportunity." - Roanoke Times

rSr/2024

DT Pheldarius Payne, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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07/25/22 - Johnny Jordan, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech + More +

2022 PRESEASON RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCHLIST: Johnny Jordan, Virginia Tech,...Virginia Tech center Johnny Jordan was named to the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list on Friday, making him just one of five centers in the ACC on the prestigious list. Jordan appeared in all 13 games, making three starts at center in 2021. - Virginia Tech Football

rSr/2023

C Johnny Jordan, Virginia Tech
News Source: Virginia Tech Football
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07/22/22 - Ali Jennings, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech + More +

2022 PRESEASON BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST: Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion,...Jennings led the Monarchs in receiving yards last season with 1,066 yards and tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Jennings caught 62 passes on the year, including 46 passes in the final seven games of the year. In the final regular season game of 2021, Jennings had nine receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns. The 252 yards were the second most in program history and the most against an FBS opponent. - Old Dominion Football

rSr/2025

WR Ali Jennings, Virginia Tech
News Source: Old Dominion Football
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07/05/22 - Connor Blumrick, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech + More +

It's easy to understand why Virginia Tech's offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen is a bit enamored with Connor Blumrick. Bowen, who is building an offense that stresses "flexibility" and "versatility", views Blumrick as someone capable of playing just about anywhere on offense. "He brings a lot of skills to the table," Bowen said, in June. Blumrick made an impression on the staff during winter workouts with Brent Pry mentioning him as one of the most talented players on the roster.

The former quarterback moved to tight end two weeks into spring camp with the staff envisioning him getting opportunities in multiple different roles. "He really made that transition seamless," Bowen said. "...He's impressed me every step of the way with how he's handled the entire transition. He's got a chance to be a very multiple-player with how we are trying to use him on the offense. I've been excited about him." Bowen isn't the only one. Virginia Tech offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, who has experience as an offensive coordinator, said Blumrick caught his attention during spring. He described Blumrick as a player that consistently made those around him better. "We asked him to do a lot of things in the spring and you see that guys have great confidence in him," Rudolph said. "It's kind of fun." - Roanoke Times

rSr/2023

TE Connor Blumrick, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/25/22 - Dorian Strong, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech + More +

Virginia Tech's new coaching staff wants Dorian Strong to garner the same type of attention he did two years ago. Strong was thrown into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly reshaped Tech's secondary. He thrived in the role and capped off a productive year with his first career interception to help lock up Tech's win over the University of Virginia. The Maryland native remained one of Tech's primary corners last fall and had a productive year - he was second on the team behind Armani Chatman with six pass breakups and had 23 tackles (20 solo) in 13 games - he didn't put together the All-ACC caliber season he was hoping for.

"Oftentimes when you have early success, it's easy to get complacent, it's easy to not get into exactly what it takes to get better," Virginia Tech cornerbacks coach Derek Jones said in a recent interview. "And I think just having been a part of it a couple times in my career, when there's a coaching change, that's tough. Because guys oftentimes, especially when you're younger, become disconnected, lose that fire, lose that hunger that it takes, knowing that the guy that's coaching you is probably not going to be there." Jones reviewed film of last season when he got the job. With Strong, he saw a player making mental mistakes far too often. "If you talk to him, I think he'd tell you it was just not putting the preparation in that he did as a freshman and expecting his ability to go on," Jones said. According to Jones, none of that was a problem this spring for the third-year defender. Strong has embraced Jones' "cheetah" mentality and has shown the attention to detail needed to get back on track. "I think the sky's the limit for him," Jones said. - Roanoke Times

rSr/2025

CB Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/18/22 - Malachi Thomas, rJr/2026, Virginia Tech + More +

Virginia Tech running backs coach Stu Holt had a pressing question for Malachi Thomas back in January. Holt scheduled Zoom sessions as a way to get to know his new players after leaving Louisville to join Brent Pry's staff. When Holt talked with Thomas, he wanted to know how the true freshman leapfrogged nine other running backs - including veterans like Raheem Blackshear and Jalen Holston - to get extended playing time at midseason. "It's a little bit coach speak to say experience doesn't matter," Holt said, in an interview with The Roanoke Times. "If you do have an older guy that has a feel for the game and the skill sets are pretty close, you do like having that experience, right? But if it's a younger guy, he's got to be a mature guy…Through that first conversation it was evident to me, that's how he got on the field." Thomas has maintained that mature approach in recent months to learn Tech's new playbook.

It helped him finish spring camp near the top of the depth chart with Pry referring to Thomas as Tech's most "consistent" running back in camp back in April. Holt agreed, but was also quick to praise Thomas' all-around skill set as well. "He's big, he's got great feet and is a really quick cut guy," Holt said. "He gets vertical very fast. He's got good vision. I think Malachi does a lot of good things. He's got good hands. He's smart. He's got a very good feel for the game, particularly being a young guy. He understands fronts and coverages. He's been impressive that way." Thomas ran for 440 yards (4.7 yards per carry) with three touchdowns last fall and had a pair of 100-yard performances. He was part of a rushing attack that finished No. 41 in the country last year with 185 yards per game. - Roanoke Times

rJr/2026